If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. President Obama followed this mantra today when he announced an executive order to stop deporting young undocumented immigrants who meet specific criteria. Knowing Congress will continue to drag its feet on passing the DREAM Act, the President is enacting the new policy while lawmakers work to get their "acts" together. Regardless of what the pundits say about Obama's motives, he is taking historical steps toward making immigration policy more reasonable, more realistic, and "more just."

President Obama announces a major change in immigration policy that will grant immunity to some illegal immigrants who entered the U.S. as children. Under the new policy, those younger than 30, who came to the U.S. before the age of 16, pose no criminal or security threat, and were successful students or served in the military, can get a two-year deferral from deportation.

The change is expected to affect as many as 800,000 undocumented immigrants. It bypasses Congress and partially achieves the goals of the “DREAM Act,” which would establish a path toward citizenship for young immigrants. Obama said the change would become effective immediately, and will make immigration policy “more fair, more efficient and more just.”

But Republicans are outraged, saying the move amounts to amnesty. They are calling it a short-term answer to a long-term problem meant only to boost the President’s political standing during an election year. They also argue the President is favoring illegal immigrants over unemployed U.S. citizens. The President says this executive order is not amnesty, nor is it immunity, but a temporary stopgap measure.

Do you support President Obama’s shift in immigration policy? Is it politically motivated? Do you agree with his plan to circumvent Congress? What’s your reaction to the President’s handling of immigration issues so far?

Send your thoughts using the link above.

Of course the republicans would say that this policy amounts to amnesty, they will say and do anything to obstruct any movement on the issue of a fair and just immigration policy.

Felix Bay Ridge

IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT HE IS NOT LOOKING OUT FOR US CITIZENS
THAT HAVE MADE THIS COUNTRY AND MANY OF US ARE FROM IMMIGRANT
PARENTS AND THEY HAD TO DO IT THE PROPER WAY. MY DAD WAS SENT TO
FRANCE TO SERVE IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR BECAUSE HE WAS AND IMMIGRANT.

HOW CAN THESE PEOPLE IN OFFICE CONTINUE TO [NOT] DO THE RIGHT THING
FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS. WHAT THEY EVERYONE OF THEM FROM THE PRESIDENTS
OFFICE ON DOWN THE LINE JUST DO BIZARRE THINGS BY GIVING AWAY THE STORE
FOR A VOTE. WHEN DOES IT STOP. WE ARE ALL SICK AND TIRED.
WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR ALL OF THIS.

ANYTIME WE VOICE OUR OPINION WE ARE CALLED ALL KINDS OF NAMES.
WE ARE FED UP. ESPECIALLY LOCALLY. IT IS A JOKE.

LET’S NOT FORGET THE THIEVES THAT KEEP COMMITTING CRIMES OVER AND OVER
AGAIN AND AGAIN AND HOW MANY ARE SENT TO JAIL. WE HAVE THE SAME REPEAT
SITUATION WITH A FEW INQUIRIES GOING ON RIGHT NOW AT THIS PRESENT TIME AND
THEY ALL ACT SO BUDDY BUDDY AND GET AWAY WITH IT.

MAXXIEE
MP

I absolutely support President Obama's shift n immigration policy. Aside from Native Americans we r all immigrants. Most decisions elected officials make r politically motivated. I wish he could circumvent Congress & pass the American Jobs Act as well as the Supreme Court if they rule against OBAMA-CARE & THANK GOD he CARES!

Joyce
Springfield Gardens

oh no this is wrong no way can we even afford them or our selfs

Dianne

How dare a country of immigrants send another human,let alone a child, back 2 starve, be butchered, or sold into slavery in any of the Third World countries immigrants come here to escape.

TVCoach

With 8.2% official unemployment, actually 15% when you count people whose benefits have expired, how can Obama justify adding 800,000 job seekers?

Mark
Hamilton Heights

NOW WE KNOW THAT REPUBLICAINS ARE ANTI-IMMIGRATION( EVEN FOR CHILDREN) IN A COUNTRY OF IMMIGRANTS?. tHE PRESIDENT SHOULD GO AROUND THESE RIGHT-WING RADICALS ON A REGULAR BASIS, AS FAR AS i'M CONCERNED. GIVE EM HELL BARRY. THIS SHAMELESS GOP THAT IS BED WITH WALL STREET AND THE KOCH BROTHERS. FOUR MORE YEARS/ MABYE FOUR MORE TERMS. BRAVISSIMO./WELL DONE.

JS
FLUSHING

Of course it's a political move. I am not in agreement with this policy. In my opinion, you want to live in the United States of America, then you should become a citizen of the United States of America. You want to live here, earn our money, have the benefit of our freedom then pay taxes and honor our Country

Jessica
Arden Heights

I am sure that many viewers will focus on the upper age limit and anticipate expressions of outrage that a 25 to 29 year old adult immigrant could be competing against them an already-fragile job market.

But what about the lower age limit? What about the children whose parents are deported?

During 2011 alone, 46,000 parents of U.S. citizen children were deported from the United States. These children were dumped into the foster care system as abandoned and neglected.

This is a clear effort to gain support from Hispanic/Latino voters for the upcoming election. President Obama cannot claim to be "helpless" about the legislative measures stalled by Congress while simultaneously issuing Executive Orders circumventing Congress.

Kat, Upper East Side

I just don't know what part of illegal people don't understand!!!

Jeremy
Forest Hills

i agree strongly with the decision, but its a stopgap solution that actually makes the situation worse. It creates a second, lower class of workers that stay in continued limbo without the same rights as other workers. Of course its a political move. However, its a necessary move because the Republicans are too stupid to move on the issue. By making things worse, Obama is actually giving more impetus to change the whole situation for the better.

Rob in chelsea

I wonder if this decision came as a follow up of the president fund-rising dinner yesterday:)

It is about time, it is a small step in the right direction. I hope the president wins the reelection and feels generous about this issue.

I don't agree with all of the requirements, especially the cut-off age, why not 35? But this is better than nothing!!!

Mely,
Upper East Side

President Obama has taken a courageous first step in remedying the injustices of the current hypocritical immigration policy. Currently so-called "illegal immigrants" can get a Federal ID number so they can work as consultants and open small businesses and pay taxes. They can pay taxes yet they have no rights, no rights as citizens. Isn't "taxation without representation" the rallying cry of our American Revolution? Our current immigration policy is an abomination and patently Un-American. Bravo to President Obama for attempting to break the deadlock of a paralyzed congress.

Erik
Park Slope

The 800,000 jobs they will usurp are jobs American citizens do not want, even when unemployed. How many of your friends and family members are farm hands, slaughterhouse workers, nannies, or car wash attendants? There are slews of underpaid illegal workers that service the restaurants, hotels, food establishments, landscaping, etc. All labor intensive roles, which Americans relegate to the undocumented. If there were none of these opportunities, they would not migrate here. If you want strict immigration controls, get ready to pay a lot more for your tomatoes, manicures, gasoline, poultry, and virtually everything else. Romney and cohorts need to decide if they can fend for themselves. I doubt American citizens clean his fleet of automobiles and expansive homes. Never mind all the illegals working at the country club, golf course, and yacht marina.

YES WE CAN! President Obama has chosen to take a courageous step in immigration reform. Immigrant groups, especially Hispanics, are validated in their continued support of the President. Love the way he swatted down that heckler! Give ‘em hell, Barry!

Alicia
Long Island City

The president’s timing is clearly politically motivated and that’s what’s bothersome. He has descended farther into the rabbit hole where he’s playing politics to garner more votes from Hispanics.

Peggy, Washington Hts.

so what about analyzing the reasons Barack did this? bottom line is that these people now are on the road to legalization. watch what the republicans do now! the move was brilliant and we just locked up the latino vote! if the republicans block this they should not get any latino votes, which should put Barack over the top in the election.

Now all we need is for the Latino vote to show up at the polls! To my Latino brothers, would you rather vote for a brother who seems to have your back or some guy who buys companies sucks them dry and lays off people!

Joseph

I notice that it's people commenting from the Latino community who are vexed over the presidents decision. Knock it off he's for everybody stop making it a race issue because American people as who line in general know that this is an unprecedented move that's fair and not targeting any particular race or nationality. I detect bigotry in their comments.

James

I have to pay almost $13.00 for a pack of cigarettes while my tax money pays for a welfare recipient to get them for free! Go to some of these neighborhoods with foreign populations, they use their EBT cards to buy hundreds of dollars worth of candy, tooth brushes and tooth paste, you name it, to send back to their country. Time to pack up and get out of this city.

Anna

This president with his latest order has definitely exceeded his authority and needs to be immediately called to account.

Congress must over ride this order and if it does not than the president and all the others in his party need to be either voted out of office or charged with treason.

If you agree write/email your congressmen and tell them so.

R. Marotta
Jackson Heights, NY